14 Beetles versus Fungi: Trophic Interactions in Boreal Forests

Abstract

Larvae or adults of fungivorous Coleoptera selectively feed on a primarily fungal diet, fruit bodies, mycelia and spores. Evolutionary success and diversity of fungi and beetles make patterns of their co-occurrence and interactions among the most complex in terrestrial habitats. This chapter provides an illustration of this ecological complexity focusing on studies of fungus–beetle interactions from European boreal forests. Taxonomic, functional and life-form diversity of both fungi and beetles clashes in a number of interaction types, resulting in diverse species assemblage patterns and varying degrees of trophic specialisation of beetles